Shop Heater

I have a 60,000-100,000 btu propane turbo heater that warms up my 2 car from 30ish to 70ish in about 10-15 minutes. It runs for about 12 hours on a tank of propane,(so it can be a bit expensive when really cold, if your shop is non insulated).

I got mine for $99 at home depot 2 years ago, and use it almost everyday, with no headaches or smell. I'll usually run it for 30 minutes to warm up the objects in the garage, then my halogens keep me warm as I move around the car. Best investment as far as heaters are concerned.

For consistent heat I have an electric radiator type heater, just to keep the chill out.
 
wlshephard said:
For a shop you might look at convection heaters (with a fan preferably) it heats pretty evenly.
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After looking around, Dyna-Glo seems to make these. I don't know if I need 250,000 BTU but they get rave reviews other than sucking propane big time.
 
I mentioned this once before here not too long back. Sorry if I'm repeating myself again.

Yep, back in Chicago, I had acquired a small propane fired bullet forced air heater, and used a 20lb propane tank with it. Yes, it worked quite well, versus something like a dual Infrared Heater that I had before this.

With the Infrared Heater, it would take forever and a day, something like this might be fine in some little ice fishing shanty, but in a garage, nope, wasn't doing it.

With my small propane fired heater, which was about 35,000 or 40,000 BTU, it would warm up my two car brick garage quite nicely.

But, I'll assume these aren't totally safe either for a heater that you want to use on a regular basis. There's got be some carbon monoxide release versus a properly vented heater.

One time using the propane heater, I was very comfy, literal t-shirt and outside temps were in the single digits. I went to light a Cig, and my freshly filled Zippo Lighter would not light. Said to myself that's weird, what the heck, then it dawned on me, there was very little oxygen left in the Garage.

Cracked the overhead power door open a foot or so for a few seconds, yep there was a cold in-rush of air, but the lighter immediately lit.

So, with that being said, and you choose to go the portable propane fired route, do be careful, with both where you aim such a heater, that you have a very good amount of space in front of it, so to not catch anything on fire, and as well, keep tabs on some fresh air, perhaps if a small window can be slightly cracked open to offer some fresh outside air to enter, this would probably be quite wise.

Hope this helps.
 
I have a Sterling Garage Guys 45 in my shop. It's a propane heater but they also make a natural gas version. It came from ACF Greenhouses. THe owner seems to be a great guy and has been very helpful with any and all questions about heaters. I've had it for about 2 years now and it realy heats the garage well.
 
This is the heater I run. It has heated up 1200 sqft houses I have flipped, in short time. It has been extremely good everytime I've used it. I replace a tank about 1 every week.

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I had a built in Reznor put in. Keeps shop at room temp year round. Adds about $50 a month to entire heating bill.
 
I used to run a kerosene torpedo heater, I think 120,000btu. A tank lasted a good amount of time. In my two car garage it would be t-shirt and shorts weather inside and 0 outside. Have to crack a window or you might die.
 
I have a 28,000 btu propane heater on a thermostat in my garage. I keep it set low though, as it is only to keep stuff in my garage from freezing. I keep it set at 45 most of the time. That is good enough to take the chill off though.
 
I use propane tank with a HF dual heating disc attached to it.. 0 to -5 and the garage stayed warm enough to work without a coat and actuall sweated.. it does smell and from what I understand, propane does need to have ventilation. I usually crack the bottom of the 2 car garage door an inch or will open the garage door for a minute after 45 mins then close to air out.

In AL I wouldn't think you would need to spend much on heat as getting cold enough to need heat is rare and short lived
 
TundraPower said:
My grandfather had a small one of these years ago in South Dakota. He ran it in his shop at night when it was ultra-cold (like -20). It stank terrible of kerosene but holy heat batman!
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Also...holy heat bill. Those salamander heaters aren't efficient at all, but they do provide quick heat and often with fumes.

Anytime you're working on a vehicle in a garage with an open flame heat source you're asking for trouble potentially. So do some research and be careful.

It's easy to get busy and forget what type of heat source you're using in a garage. My uncle had a mechanic hired to come to his place and work on a 64 Corvette. The guy performed the work and when he was finished my uncle asked him about performing some engine work...fuel line.

Two people knew there was an open flame salamander heater in that garage heating it. Two men knew better and both paid a price.

Blew the roof rafters off of the top plate and nearly blew the entire roof off the garage. Melted the entire front half of the car and warped the rest. Think about that for a moment...you car guys...and let it sink in. Melted a completely original 64 Corvette with low miles...original owner too.
 
Some day I'd like a nice, waste oil heater. We put one in a shop I used to work at, and it was amazing. It kept 6000 sqft nice and toasty! I'd get a smaller one for a 3 car garage though.

They are surprisingly efficient, and can pay for themselves in a couple years.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online
 
hoytman said:
also...holy heat bill. Those salamander heaters aren't efficient at all, but they do provide quick heat and often with fumes.

Anytime you're working on a vehicle in a garage with an open flame heat source you're asking for trouble potentially. So do some research and be careful.

It's easy to get busy and forget what type of heat source you're using in a garage. My uncle had a mechanic hired to come to his place and work on a 64 corvette. The guy performed the work and when he was finished my uncle asked him about performing some engine work...fuel line.

Two people knew there was an open flame salamander heater in that garage heating it. Two men knew better and both paid a price.

Blew the roof rafters off of the top plate and nearly blew the entire roof off the garage. Melted the entire front half of the car and warped the rest. Think about that for a moment...you car guys...and let it sink in. Melted a completely original 64 corvette with low miles...original owner too.
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oh... My.... God!
 
I have a pellet stove in my garage.


ps50pelletstove.jpg
 
I have been thinking about doing a pellet stove also. I have one in our house, so it really isn't a big deal since I am already buying pellets. Is it working pretty good in your garage?
 
Couple days late on the picture, but nontheless here it is.
100,000-200,000 BTU Propane Heater- Works great.

 
That bottle won't last long with that thing running! I have a smaller heater like that also, and a small 20# bottle will last a day or two if being used most of the day. I see your in TX though so you probably don't need to run it all that much like us up north.
 
with either propane or kerosene ventless heater you have to be careful with the CO that they generate. some people are more sensitve to it than other (I get headaches at 5ppm when most will have no effect before 25ppm) you need to have some fresh air circulation or you will get CO buildup. the bigger the BTUs, the bigger the fresh air opening you need, and get a good CO detector if you go ventless!
 
KMG said:
I have been thinking about doing a pellet stove also. I have one in our house, so it really isn't a big deal since I am already buying pellets. Is it working pretty good in your garage?
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Works well
 
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